Omnishambles Not On Target - Shock!

Just as predicted by Joe Kuipers, Chair of Avon and Somerset Probation Trust, the slow train crash that is the TR Omnishambles is in trouble and the schedule is slipping. This just in from Napo HQ:-

Dear Members, Trusts were today given an official stay of execution until 31st May in a notice issued by Michael Spurr. This is recognition that the timetable set out by the Secretary of State just isn’t safe. Napo, alongside sister justice unions and others interested in safeguarding probation will be seeking clarification about the wider impact of this delay, in particular on the proposed share-sale timetable. If it’s too risky to close Trusts on 1st April then any planned share sales must also be delayed – even Grayling has said all along they need at least 6 months for CRC’s to bed-in before they can be sold off. This two month delay would take us into 2015 before planned share sale. This takes us very close to the General Election period and any further delay can bring us over the campaign finishing line victorious. The list of identified and recognised risks has, if anything over the last few weeks got longer not shorter. The risks continue to cover professional delivery risks and practical, organisational concerns – ranging from still developing a case risk assignment tool through to not being able to set up any HR systems until staff have all been assigned. The unions have been working hard to address transfer “measures” with the PA and MoJ Officials but we will not compromise members’ interests or public safety to fit a politically motivated timetable and there is increasing acceptance that many of the challenges are difficult to address in a way that works. The unresolved risks are just as critical to the share sale process and timetable. In short, you can’t put an accurate price on something if you don’t know what it accurately looks like and how it actually works. That is as true for any seller as it is for any buyer. Until all of the risks are addressed the sell-off is economically as well as morally and professionally unsafe. With competition very limited and the risks on all sides high then the price goes up and Grayling may not be able to afford a sell-off. Any reputable bidders will also be concerned about being blamed for future failures when buying something that doesn’t work. Today’s delay in closing the Trusts highlights the continuing risks and should be seen as massively positive for our campaign to prevent the sell-off. This is now an even more critical campaigning period – as Sherlock might say, “The game is afoot.” Michael Spurr’s letter to Trusts says, “We now, more than ever, need to maintain the momentum for change we have achieved through the hard work done to date”. These words hold far more credibility when transferred to your efforts and hard work in fighting the break-up and sell-off of a successful service. Every grievance registered is logged and passed to bidders to add to their risk columns. Today’s announcement and the delay in the split shows that momentum is really with us. Keep up the campaigning and look out for further updates and more information over the coming days and weeks. Yours sincerely, Dean Rogers Assistant General Secretary

This from Heather Munro, Chief Executive of London Probation Trust:-

Transforming Rehabilitation Update – Termination of Probation Trust Contracts 

We have been waiting to hear from the Ministry of Justice about the formal termination of our contract.  In a teleconference with Chiefs and Chairs earlier today, it was confirmed that Probation Trust contracts will not now be terminated until 31 May.   

This means that you will continue to be employed by London Probation Trust until 31 May 2014. 

Please note that the assignment of staff to the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Company to new organisations will continue as planned.  We are expected to complete this allocation process by 1 April. 

The new date is designed to enable staff in both Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and in the National Probation Service (NPS) to trial the new ways of working before the Ministry of Justice formally completes the transfer to the new governance arrangements. 

The Ministry of Justice is also intending to make the full transition to new IT and support systems in areas like HR by the end of May. 
  
From 1 April, cases will be allocated according to the future structure.  However, problematic cases will not be transferred between probation staff unless there is a suitable time to do so which ensures there is not a risk to public safety. 

Stop Press - this is the MoJ spin doctors at their best:-

Important milestone for critical probation reforms

A further step towards the Government’s reforms to rehabilitation has been announced today as probation trusts were informed that staff will be assigned to one of the new organisations responsible for managing offenders and tackling our shockingly high reoffending rates by 1 April.

Notice has now been given that probation trust contracts will be closed down by 31 May this year, as plans have been finalised for the transfer to new arrangements. It is expected that probation staff will be working in their new teams by the start of April, with some teams in place as early as February. The new ways of working will then be fully tested and systems rolled out ready for the formal transfer.

The new system will see current probation officers transferred to one of the new Community Rehabilitation Companies that will work to rehabilitate low and medium risk offenders, or the new National Probation Service that will be tasked with protecting the public from the most dangerous criminals. More than half a million crimes are committed each year across England and Wales by those who have already broken the law and our reforms are aimed at finally tackling these unacceptable reoffending rates that see more needless victims created every day.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said:

“These reforms will finally address the glaring gap in our system that currently sees around 50,000 short-term prisoners released onto the streets each year with no support, unchecked, to go back to their criminal ways. We have always been clear that these thorough plans will be rolled out in a controlled way that ensures public safety at every stage. We will continue to engage with all relevant parties as these reforms are introduced to ensure a smooth transition.”

Testing of new systems has already begun and will continue until the transfer to new arrangements. A key element of the programme will see a nationwide network of resettlement prisons created so nearly all offenders are released into the area in which they will live and be supervised. Our new approach will see providers only paid in full if they are successful at reducing reoffending, making hard-working tax-payers’ money go further and ensuring all sentences deliver both punishment and rehabilitation.

We expect successful bidders to be in place and delivering services by 2015.